Easter Bunny Rays!

I just finished another Easter card using my newly acquired stash of vintage Easter digital images that I have been finding online and sprucing up in PaintShop Pro.  I just love this little "top hat" Easter bunny.  He looks so cheerful as he goes about the business of painting and decorating Easter eggs.  I thought he would make a perfect card for the masculine members of my family, yet he is so whimsical that I think the female members would enjoy him as well.

Finding papers that would go with his colorful clothing meant not using traditional Easter paper that's for sure.  I decided a "coat of many colors" card would be appropriate and that would best be achieved by making a sunburst ray card.  I ended up using some old My Mind's Eye Stella Rose papers I have had around for over three years...their colors were perfect.  I added a few pieces of Stampin' Up papers as well to achieve the mix I was looking for.  Here is the card I ended up with:

Recipe:  Darice Kraft cardstock (base); MME Stella Rose: Gertie, Hazel, Hattie/ So Sophie: Brothers & Sisters; Adornit Vintage Groove: Polka Dot Green (back); Stampin' Up Print Poetry: red flower, green quatrefoil.  Spellbinders die: Big Scallop Ovals SM, Ovals SM.  Vintage online digital image.  Elmer's Adhesive Spray.  Stash: crystal fine glitter.  Stampin' Up Ink: Baja Breez (lightly sponged image background).  HugSnug seam binding: Serbin Brown (olive), Goldenrod (colored w-Copic: YR23).  Stampin' Up button.  Stash:  tan scrapbooking floss.  Faux stitching (fine brown pen).  Inside: EK Scallop Corner punch.

Again this week, I have decided to enter my son's Easter card in The Shabby Tea Room's Week #214 challenge: Easter Sweetness, which requires the use of stripes and/or polka dots.  The inspiration photo and the title of the challenge surely tell you it must be an Easter card:

Be sure to visit The Shabby Tea Room blog to see all the other exciting entries in this challenge.  Click on the link below to be transport to the tea room!

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-214-easter-sweetness.html

Eggstra Special Easter Wishes!

As I did last year, I decided I needed to look over my Easter stash to see what was lurking before I started another card.  Last year, I made myself use everything from my stash rather than buy or look for anything new.  I spotted this really cute paper that I know I've had for over three years.  I have loved it for just that long, so I don't know why I hadn't used it before.  This year is certainly the time to do it for sure! I still have many more foam Easter shapes in my stash. . .so why not use them again.  As I learned last year, if you color the purple rabbit with Copic markers, they will actually color, usually darker than the pen color.  I chose a dark brown Copic, which was be perfect for this card.  Here is my final creation:

Recipe: SU Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue. Pattern: WRMK Hippity Hoppity Easter Tree. Sentiment: Computer-generated. Punches: Martha Stewart Swirling Lace Around the Page Border & 3-in-1 Butterflies. Spellbinders Long Rectangles SM & Long Scalloped Rectangles SM. SU Beautiful Wings Sizzilit die. Extras: SU Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin ribbon, SU 1/8" Taffeta ribbon (bunny bow), Blue/White ribbon (Michael's $1 bin). Recollections 3mm multi-colored rhinestones, rhinestone ovals (butterfly body) & black mini pearl (bunny eye). $1 Store Glitter Eggs & Bunnies (eggs decorated with ribbon and rhinestones). Glue dot minis, Scotch foam tape, Scotch 1/4" tape glider.

A Decorative Glittery Easter Egg!

I bought two egg dies last year after Easter, and I was anxious to try out at least one this year.  I decided to go with the larger of the two dies and make it the focal point of my card.  I chose a cheerful pastel polka dot to peek through the decorative cutouts in the egg.  I like the way it turned out, and I think it looks very elegant.  I decided on an embossed raised layer mat behind the egg to add depth in this almost monochromatic card...white with a pinkie-coral.

When I finished my card, I decided it suited the current Shabby Tea Room challenge: #213 - Floral Fantasy, which requires you to create a project inspired by the beautiful colors in the photo and include flowers and ribbon/ lace.  

There are many beautiful cards already posted for this challenge, plus design team sample inspirations. . .be sure to check out the website by clicking on the link below:

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-213-floral-fantasy.html

Submitting my card for this challenge was of secondary importance, because the original purpose in making it was to send it to a family members as a way to let them know I am thinking about them during this Easter season.  I hope they are as please with it as I am!  (Of course, I also hope the Shabby Tea Room thinks its a winner as well!)

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock (base); Staples Cherry cs.  DCWV Stripes & Polka Dots Stack.  Spellbinders M-Bossabilities: Splendid/ Design B.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.   Lifestyles QuicKutz die: Doily Egg.  Elmer's Craft Bond adhesive spray.  Stash: Fine Iridescent white glitter (JoAnns).  Stampin' Up stamp: Delightful Dozen.  Stampin' Up punch:  Modern Label.  Stampin' Up Ink: Basic Black.  Stampin' Up 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim: Strawberry Slush.  Stash:  white lace; Cherry plaid ribbon.   Recollection pears (R20 Copic marker colored).

Our April Birthday Girl!

April brings the celebration of our youngest daughter's birthday, who is our third child of the four.  This lovely young lady has brought many wonderful times and loving memories to me and the entire family.  She is my gardener, who loves to plant my spring flowers in my oak barrels on the front porch, and always brings more planters and hanging baskets to make a colorful display.  So, now I will take the time to make her a special birthday card to celebrate her special day.

Jackie has a special friend, who is often glued to the nearest soft spot close her as she watches television, reads, plays video games, paints her toenails, or studies diligently to complete her R.N. program.  That friend is her kitty, Sphinxi, so I thought I would make a card with this little friend in mind.  I already had an idea for the card layout I wanted to use, and when I found a cute little digital image of a kitty peeking over a flower pot, I knew it would be just right.  We often find Sphinxi in the living room bay window peaking around the many houseplants while laying in the filtered sunshine (if and when available in our rainy northwest). 

I chose my paper colors knowing I needed to be able to coordinate these colors into the flowers in the pot.  My mind has also been on Easter cards, and I was working back and forth between Jackie's card and Easter, when I realized one of the vintage Easter digital images I was thinking of using would go perfectly with almost the same design and papers as Jackie's, so I tested the idea on the Easter card first, and it worked beautifully.  You will find that card post to my blog on April 1, entitled "Easter's Coming...Let's Get Started!"  Here is Jackie's card, and I know she will love the little kitty image!

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cardstock (base); DCWV Everyday Essentials; Jillibean Southern Chicken Dumpling Soup Coordinating stripe; Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana cs, Pretty in Pink cs.  Digital kitty image colored with Copic markers.  Spellbinders Ribbon Banners die.  Stampin' Up Dazzling Delights. Machine stitching.  Computer-made sentiment. Sponge distressed edges w-Stampin' Up Burnt Brown Sugar ink.  Vintage Bingo card and Tape Measure (colored with Copics).

Mom's Beautiful Easter Egg!

In my newly created stash of vintage Easter images, there was one image in particular that jumped right out at me and said, "This is the perfect image to make a card for Mom for Easter...she absolutely loves the colors in this beautiful decorative egg."  The decision was easy, but finding just the right papers with the right color hues was not so easy.  I must have looked through almost all the paper I own (and that is no small amount), but still I procrastinated and looked some more.  Finally I found three that I was satisfied with.  So, to work I went and created a simply vintage Easter egg card just for Mom.

While I was at it, I noticed that the Shabby Tea Room is having a challenge, which also helped to inspire my card, so I decided I should enter the Week #213 - Floral Fantasy challenge with Mom's Easter card made just for her.  The challenge requires you to create a project inspired by the multitude of soft pastel roses in the photo provided and to include flowers and ribbon/ lace.  

My card inspiration for this challenge and for Mom's special Easter card is shown below.  Don't forget to go and check out the other cards entered in the Shabby Tea Room challenge this week by clicking on the link below:

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-213-floral-fantasy.html

Recipe:  Bazzill Lily Pond cs (base); Deck the Halls (mat); Basic Grey Serendipity 6x6 pad; Authentique Promise-Four 6x6 pad.  Spellbinders Floral Ovals + Ovals LG.  HugSnug seam binding-Moss Green + White Copic colored R14.  Prima paper flower.  Queen&Co. Pearls.  Elmer's Craft Bond adhesive spray.  Stash: Crystal glitter (used on image + frame).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan sponge distressing.

Easter Bunny's Coming. . .Card #2!

This is a card that I made from a card kit design by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner.  The original card pieces were for an A2 size and I wanted my card to be larger.  To accomplish this, I cut a new card base 5-1/4" x 5-1/2", a new paper lace trim, added a new/ longer lace piece and added a striped paper to the bottom below the lace instead of using all one paper pattern.  I also spaced out my banner, corrugated label, and stamped circle embellishments.  I colored my little bunny with Copic markers, and I sponge distressed all my paper and embellishment edges with Chestnut Roan ink.  I love this card design and the pink and green combination.  I'm pretty happy with the end result.

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin'Up cardstocks - Pear Pizzazz (base), Very Vanilla; WRMK Cotton Tails 6x6 Pad; Cloud 9 Pink stripe; DCWV Corrugated Pastels Paper stack.  Stampin' Up stamp: Everybuuny (retired). EK Abstract Flower punch. Lifestyles Circles & Eyelet Circles. Spellbinders: Labels 17.  Hug Snug seam binding ribbons.  Offray lace.  Stash buttons.  Prima rose. SU rhinestone. Colorbox Chestnut Roan ink.

Easter's Coming...Let's Get Started!

I've been working with digital vintage Easter images for the past three days.  I've found quite a stash of them, but had quite a bit of work to do on them to size them and get their background colorized to be able to use them in a frame without hiding the picture.  Out came PaintShop Pro to add an additional border around many of the images, but then I had to work with the background colors and images to clone the right textures and colors into the border to blend into the existing image.  I have finally finished all that grunt work and should be able to get started with some mojo to actually come up with a design, but I've had my daughter's birthday card that I need to get finished on in mind as well.  

While letting my juices mull on her card, I had a yen to use a BINGO card and I found a cute little kitty digital stamp to Copic color, so I pick the paper colors.  In the midst of finalizing her papers, I realized the one of my little vintage Easter chicks would be perfect with the same colors.  After finishing the sketch for Jackie's birthday card, I pulled out that little chick and realized not only would all the paper colors go just perfect, but Jackie's birthday card design would be perfect as well.  So, I decided to use it on my first Easter card to see how it would look.  I did some work on my Easter card's BINGO card and blended too images to make an EASTER bingo card, colorizing it, and a little tape measure I wanted to use, in PaintShop Pro.  I am really pleased with my BINGO Easter card, and I know the design will be cute on Jackie's birthday card as well.

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cardstock (base); DCWV Everyday Essentials; Jillibean Southern Chicken Dumpling Soup Coordinating stripe.  Lifestyles dies: Lace Circles & Circles.  Elmer's Craft Bond spray adhesive.  Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Vintage Easter Chick image (Graphic Fairy).  Vintage Bingo card and tape measure (found online).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan sponge-distress edges.

Sympathy for a Dear Friend!

A long-time friend of mine just lost her father.  I really wanted and needed to send her a sympathy card to express my sorrow for her loss.  I also wanted her to know my thoughts and prayers are with her, and that my hope is she will take comfort in the good memories that she will keep with her for her lifetime.  In time, we are able to think of our lost love ones with fond and joyful memories that brings them back into our hearts again and again.

I designed this card several months ago knowing that it would back a beautiful sympathy card, and this was just the right card for my friend.  I made the flower from a word printed paper and spritzed it with gold metallic along with the black crocheted paper trim. I also added a bit of sewing machine stitching and zigzagging that I think always enhances a certain style of card, especially those with a bit more of a vintage look.  Today, I added my own sympathy verse to the inside with coordinating embellishments to tie in with the front design.

Recipe:  SU Basic Black cs; Paper Co.: Kraft cs; Graphic 45: Curtain Call-Moulin Rouge feathers, Tour de France-stripe.  Punches: EK Fleur de lis border; SU Modern Labels, Word Window, Blossom (2-3/8”).  Sizzix Sizzlits die:  Birds & Blossoms-1-3/4” large flower/ 1” medium flower.  Homemade shimmer mist: Folk Art Metallic Inca Gold acrylic paint (flower + black cs borders).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan-edge distress; Charcoal-flower distress.  Joanns: Ribbons-5/8” Shimmer Sheer Black, 3/8” Picot Edge Satin-Antique Gold; Black Sparkle Tulle; Signature Multi-Tone thread-Sandy Hues.  Queen&Co.: Black pearls.  Sewing machine stitching.

Whoo's Under the Weather?

A very, long-time friend of my husband just had spinal surgery.  He will have a long recovery and therapy process, which will probably run into months.  My husband wanted me to make a card to send back East to let him know he was thinking about him and wishes every good thought for his complete and speedy recovery.

I remembered an owl card designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Stamp Corner), that I made several years ago in one of her Stampin' Up classes that I thought I would work really well as a Get Well card by using "whoo" in the sentiment.  I then designed the inside to coordinate with the front of the card and composed a get well verse to suit the occasion.  Here is my little card that I re-created.  My sentiment and its shape is my own choice.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers: Pumpkin Pie cs (base), Baja Breeze cs, Everyday Enchantment dsp (SAB 2012).  Stampin' Up stamps: Aviary.  Stampin' Up Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Chococate Chip.  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon: Calypso Coral/ Lucky Limeade. Stampin' Up Punches: 1-1/2" circle; 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border.  EK punch: Medium scallop photo corner, Journal Plate (modified). WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.

Traveling: Coming Closer!

On the final leg of our journey, we put in a 12-hour drive.  Typically, we drove from six and one-half to seven hours each day, but as we got such an early start on our final day, we decided to just come all the way rather than stop one more night.  

We really timed this journey just right.  The freeways were bare and dry most of the way with filtered sunshine to full sun, though cold and windy in the Midwest.  We did experience one night with a short snow fall overnight in Rapid City, South Dakota, but by mid-morning it was 38 degree weather, with filtered sun, and a well-tended I-90 roadway.  During the rest of the day, it continued to get sunnier, warmer, and greener as we traveled west.  It was a balmy mid-50's by the time we reach Idaho, and the scenery became more like home!  

Here are a few more pictures taken on this final leg of our travels:

Grand Tetons - Wyoming (from East side)

Last leg of Montana - approaching Idaho

Welcome to Idaho!

Welcome to Washington!

Passing Spokane, Washington

Traveling Across Country!

Michele and I started our journey from West Virginia at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7th, after loading up the little U-Haul to transport Michele's work computer, files, and office equipment needed to set up her home working office.  She will set up in their vacant Auburn home until their furniture arrives some time in April, meanwhile sleeping at our house.

For our travels, we also had numerous dog paraphernalia to bring, and Michele wanted to transport her china and crystal herself, as well as the garage shelving, which was broken down for re-assembly back in Washington.  Both the little trailer and her vehicle were full to the brim.  The SUV contained not only Michele and I, but two large dogs in the rear, a cooler, water, snacks, dog food, and luggage!  Sadie, a 75-pound half Australian Shepherd/ Golden Retriever mix, and Remi, a 38-pound Merle Australian Shepherd, were as good as gold on the drive.  Remi slept most of the way and Sadie dozed and got up for a view every now and then.  Both dogs were somewhat exuberant when given the chance to escape from the back hatch during much needed stops and breaks in driving, but they jumped right back in when urged.  After all, they weren't about to be left behind!  

Sadie got more and more excited as she began to recognize the terrain and smells of Washington.  She has always had a sense of when she would soon be arriving at our house when traveling back for a visit miles before her arrival.  Their last residence before transferring back to West Virginia was actually about 10 minutes from our house.  Remi was only eight months old when they left Washington, so he didn't have years of instinct to guide him as Sadie does.

Her husband, Don,  begins his leave before his military retirement in mid-April and will travel to the Northwest with their 5th-wheel trailer and truck at that time.  This month gap in their arrivals back home will allow Michele to have some home renovations completed, such as re-carpeting the entire house, refinishing all wood floors, installation of stone floors in the hallway from the garage entry to the family room and laundry room areas, garage floor finishing, and some wall painting all before the furniture arrives.

Following are a few snapshots I took with the IPad as we traveled and stopped along our way:

Mt. Rushmore (Keystone, South Dakota)

Crazy Horse Monument in the making - in progress since 1948!

Dinner at historic Alpine Inn, Keystone SD

A Good Friend's Birthday!

One of my long-time friends, a friendship that started way back in the early 1990's, is having her birthday.  We worked together for over six years and then she transferred to another school.  We try to keep in touch, along with a few other ladies, with at least a quarterly "girls' night out," which we are presently behind on with each of our many family obligations.  But, for sure on her birthday, I want to wish her the very best day and the very best in the coming year until her next birthday, when I will renew my birthday wishes again!

I made this card several years ago from a card kit my sister designed when she owned her scrapbooking store.  It was done with Progresso Koh-I-Noor woodless-colored pencils, set with mineral spirits; those were the days before I learned how to use Copic markers.  It's fun to look back on those colored images.  I am amazed with the coloring job you achieve with just 24 different colors by coloring lightly, adding more pressure, and adding shadings and shadows.  Even looking at it now, it was a pretty good coloring job, if I don't say so myself!  I thought this little bundled up Magnolia stamp Tilda would be just right for a birthday during our cold, rainy winter months in the Seattle area.  I think Carla will like her card.

Recipe:  Bazzill cardstocks: Tangelo, Saguaro.  Basic Gray: Pyrus.  Spellbinder dies: Scallop Squares LG, Long Scallop Rectangles LG, Labels Four.  Magnolia stamp.  Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils.  WalMart Mineral spirits.  May Arts Twine.  Computer-made sentiment.

Birthday for a Game Connoisseur!

My son, David, was born in the window that put him in the fore-front of video gamers!  When he was only seven years old, the Atari Game Console was brand new on the market, and we purchased it for family entertainment.  David loved his Adventure game where you searched for the treasure chest hidden in a cave with a labyrinth of tunnels, and where the wrong choice would allow the dragon guarding the treasure to come out and attack you.  His next favorite game was Space Invaders.  From this start, he has now progressed to online gaming, the X-Box, PlayStation, etc, and more that I'm probably not even aware exists!

One of his favorites right now is Mass Effect, so I decided to try making him a card with that theme in mind.  My first goal was to replicate the X-Box game controller, which I researched via the Internet, and I was able to make a plausible replica, I think.  Next, what kind of paper could I possibly use?  I certainly didn't have anything along the lines of current-day games.  When I'm stuck, I usually try to find resources via the Internet so that is where I looked.  I found some wallpaper prints depicting the binary code with an abstract flair and leaning toward the Matrix-look and a Mass Effect IPhone wallpaper, both were the right colors to work well together. I downloaded these and pasted them in Microsoft Word to manipulate their size for cardmaking.  Here is my finished card for David.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Basic Black cs (card base), Basic Gray cs.  Digital online wallpapers.  DCWV Generation Tech Stack (Dimensional).  Papertrey Ink die: XL Rickrack.  Stampin' Up EFolder: Square Lattice.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  EK Circle punches + Spellbinder die Circles (smallest circle). Scotch 3M foam tape.  Glue Dots.  (Inside only: EK Scallop Corners).

Time for a Birthday Hello!

One of my husband's good friend's wife had a birthday in February.  I first met Fran through my husband, who was friends with her husband through a working relationship.  After retirement, this couple graciously invited us to go out camping with them and taught us how to "clam" for Razor Clams on our Washington beaches.  These were fun and enjoyable times and her birthday afforded me the opportunity to wish her well on her special day by making her a card.

One of my Stampin' Up stamps from a set from SAB 2013 had remained in its box, and I really wanted to see what I could do with it.  It depicts the interesting red phone booths that you would find in London on a visit to the British Isles.  I am wondering if this English version of  a phone booth is still as plentiful as they once were or if they, too, have disappeared as ours have in the United States for lack of use with the advent of common place personal cell phone usage.  I hope Fran enjoyed her card and had a happy birthday!

Recipe:  Size–5-1/4” x 5-3/4.”  SU Stamp: Feeling Sentimental (2013 SAB)/phone booth.  SU cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy. Pattern: MME/American Made–Petticoat Plaid/ Celebration Banner. Copic white cardstock.  SU Basic Black Embossing powder. Copics markers: R46/ R29. SU Inks: Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler (sponging/distressing). Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (windows/ very lightly)WRMK Deco Corner punch. Dies: Lifestyles 3/4” circle. Spellbinders Pinking Circles SM/ LG. Computer-made sentiment. SU Adhesive pearls (B99 Copic color). 3M foam tape, 3M tape runner. Hot glue. Stash: 5/8” Navy/ Red stitch ribbon; Pocket watch brad.

My Travels Begin!

A few days ago, I flew back to Washington D.C. to meet my oldest daughter, Michele to keep her company on her drive cross-country to move home to Washington State from West Virginia because her husband is retiring from the Coast Guard after 26 years of service.  

After picking me up at Dulles International Airport, we are staying in Washington D.C. for a little four-day sightseeing trip, weather permitting.  We will visit some of the sites and museums in and around the city.  We are staying in a hotel, where all we have to do is buy a train ticket and speed away underground to arrive in the heart of D.C. in about 12 to 14 minutes.  The highlight of our trip will be a tour of the White House today, which Michele was able to set up with the help of her West Virginia senator.  I'm sure it helped that she was able to say that this was our only opportunity before she made her military move back to her home state of Washington with her husband military retirement after 26 years of Coast Guard service.  Whatever it took, we are delighted!

The White House - North Portico (considered entrance)

Entrance Hall

Family Staircase

Cross Hall (leaving Entrance)

The Library

The China Room

 The Vermeil Room

The East Room

The Green Room

 The Blue Room

The Red Room (Nancy Reagan's favorite)

The tour was self-guided, but there were Secret Service or historical guides in most rooms to give information and answer questions.  Several of the rooms had very thorough and interesting "guides," who gave lots of information without even being asked or prompted.

We did not get to see the Lincoln Bedroom, because it is located in the family private area along with all other bedrooms in the White House.  It was traditionally used several decades ago as a guest bedroom for visiting dignitaries until the use of Blair House became more commonplace.

Security to actually begin our White House tour was very thorough I must say.  We had to produce our identification for review and matching at three different Secret Service checkpoints, plus a "pathway" through a dog-sniffing area and into an airport-type screening device, with the very few things you could have on your person going though the machine scrutiny.  We were allowed wallet and car keys on our person only.  No water, lipstick, cosmetics, and the list goes on.  It's good to know they are that thorough!